As Greece’s climate crisis minister points to a potential "organized criminal act" behind the devastating wildfire on the island of Chios, authorities have arrested a woman who reportedly confessed to unintentionally starting one of the fire fronts by carelessly discarding a cigarette.
The development adds a complex layer to the investigation into the blaze that has scorched thousands of acres since Sunday.
A 35-year-old Georgian national was arrested this week and faces charges of negligent arson after allegedly admitting her actions contributed to one of the five initial fires.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, the Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Giannis Kefalogiannis, maintained that the pattern of multiple, simultaneous fires suggests a deliberate attack. He warned that if arson is proven, it represents “a dangerous attack against society, the environment, and human life.”
Mr. Kefalogiannis made his remarks during a debate on a new civil protection framework, where he defended the state’s massive response to the Chios fire, which included 17 separate emergency evacuation alerts.
He said the coordination between firefighters, the military, and local authorities demonstrated the country’s readiness, but he acknowledged more work is needed.
“This bill doesn’t fix all the long-standing problems, but it strengthens the building blocks of our civil protection system,” Mr. Kefalogiannis said, calling for national unity on the issue.
He also criticized what he called “unjust” attacks from opposition parties, which have accused the government of failing to adequately prepare for the fire season.
The minister said such rhetoric undermines the "heroes in the field" who battled the blaze.
As the fire is now largely contained, the focus shifts to the investigation and the political debate over Greece’s preparedness for a long and dangerous summer.